Kalki 2898 AD is one of the biggest films to have come out of Indian cinema. This film has hit the screens today, featuring Amitabh Bachchan, Prabhas, Deepika Padukone, and Kamal Haasan in lead roles. Let’s see if the film lives up to the hype or not.
Story: Supreme Yaskin is the ruler of a world named Complex in the city of Kashi in the year 2898 AD. He wants a serum that is available only to a few pregnant women. He tests many and finds a match with Sumati(a lab subject). But to his bad luck, Sumati escapes the world of complexity. In comes Ashwathama(Amitabh Bachchan) to save her. This is also when a bounty hunter, played by Prabhas, enters the scene. His aim is to enter the complex and for that, Ashwathama comes in his way. Who is this Ashwathama, and why is he saving Sumati? Did Bhairava enter the Complex that forms the story?
Performances: Prabhas has been showcased in a fun avatar in the film. But his look, and costumes have been designed well. He is hardly there in the first half but packs a punch in the second half. Deepika Padukone gets a solid role as a pregnant woman and does her bit. But the best role of the film is of Amitabh Bachchan. He plays the Ashwathama in a solid manner. Disha Patani is wasted in her role. Anna Ben gets a good role. Brahmanandam is seen in a few scenes. Pasupathy is also okay in his role. Kamal Haasan has only three scenes, but he makes his presence felt in the film. Shobana was okay in her role.
Technical Aspects: The quality of the film reflects every penny spent by the makers. Santhosh Narayanan delivers an impressive score, though his songs may take time to grow on listeners. Vyjayanthi Movies’ production values are top-notch. The art department, VFX team, post-production crew, and costume designers contribute to making the film a rich experience. Djordje Stojiljkovic’s cinematography is outstanding. While Kota Venkateswara Rao’s editing is good, it could be sharper, especially in the first hour. Cutting unnecessary scenes would have improved the film’s pace.
Analysis: Kalki 2898 AD is one of the best films that have come out of Telugu cinema. The manner in which Nag Ashwin has dreamt of a new world, created everything from scratch, and cast big stars itself makes Kalki quite special. There are so many scenes that are stunning in the film.
The director takes us into a new world altogether in his three-hour film. Mixing mythology with science fiction has been showcased superbly by Nagi. Kamal Haasan’s role and the manner in which things are showcased in a never-before manner are solid in Kalki. The world-building is neat, but Nag Ashwin takes a lot of time. That is the reason the first half looks dull and slow.
But the presence of Prabhas and Deepika makes things click. The actual magic happens in the second half, as there is amazing action, solid thrills, and stunning cameos that grab your attention. The elevation that Prabhas’s character gets in the second half and the way Nag Ashwin reveals Prabhas’s actual character is icing on the cake.
The money spent is shown in each scene. Kalki is a very hard subject to execute, but Nag Ashwin once again proves that he is a brilliant director who has a lot of confidence in what he makes. He lives up to all the hype created and makes Kalki 2898 AD a must-watch for sections of the audience. It caters to everyone and proves that if dreamt big, success will surely lure him.
Verdict: Overall, Kalki 2898 AD is one of the best films that has come out of Telugu cinema. It is a cinematic experience that should be enjoyed on the big screen. The presence of big stars is the icing on the cake. Book your tickets at a theater near you and enjoy the cinematic marvel.
Bottom Line – A visual extravaganza
Rating: 3.5/5
